HAGINBALDS The Arte of Medieval Faulconry

HAGINBALDS
The Arte of Medieval Faulconry
as Practiced in a Modern World
Gathered by long practice and experience
and published
for the delight of noble mindes, and instruction of
young Faulconers in things pertaining
to this Princely Art.
By Eule von Haginbald. Gent.
Printed at Bryn Gwlad by E. H. for A. d’A.,
and are to be freely given by him to those
gentles whom he deems worthy.
TO
THE HONORABLE LADY
and Right Worthie Baroness,
Her Excellency to the Court of Ansteorra,
Ariella d’Aille, Mistress.
Madam:
Although I am not so well experienced in the art of book-making, I cannot but know that the Author of
any worke, doth by no one thing commend his judgement more to the world, than by the choice of his
Patron: To particularize your honourable Titles, or here to blazon your Excellencies were needlesse, and
shall rather be printed on my faithfull heart, than published by my ruderpen, especially upon the
dedication of so slight a subject. Madam, I have long waited for opportunity & this great while whipt
occasion on, whereby I might tender some open testimonie of my love, before I dye, which may remaine as
a perpetual memoriall of my ever-devoted service. To that end I have runne backe into my younger yeares,
to summon the delights of my able youth, together with the fruits of my more experienced age, (comprised
within a few leaves) to attend your Excellency’s leasure, and humbly to crave your Honours patronage.
As for the subject it is not waighty (being but a Treatise of Sport) and to attend and to give place to your
Excellency’s honourable affaires, and more serious imployments.
In fine, I here dedicate to your Excellency the delights of my Child-hood, the pleasures of my youth, the
experiments of my age, my faithfull (though painefull) labours, my fruitfull (though slight) indeavors,
myselfe, my continual service and observance to your truly-noble Selfe, humbly requesting your Excellency
not to be ashamed to Patronize that which your servant is not afraid to present: I therefore know no
person of qualitie in this Kingdome, to whom I can offer these my Labours for judgement, before your
selfe in fitnesse, as well for your dexteritie in discerning, as place of emploiment, to which, when my love
and observance towards you is added, you wil (I doubt not) with favour and alacritie receive him to
protection.
Your Worships
true honorer,
and to be commaunded,
Eule von Haginbald, Gentleman
THE CONTENTS OF
The nine Chapters of this
Booke.
Chap. I.
The Authours introduction to the History of Medieval Faulconry as well as the
ranking of the Faulconer and his birds in Society together with a necessary
understanding of the restrictions and laws to practice such an Arte.
Chap. II.
An adequate description and understanding of the species of birds available to the
Faulconer of Olde as well as in the Modern Worlde.
Chap. III.
The brief description of the birds commonly used in the sport of Faulconry.
Chap. IV.
The description of the equipment necessary to properly house, train and keep the
Faulconry birds.
Chap. V.
A description of the structures for housing the Faulconry birds.
Chap. VI.
A description of the three types of birds available for trapping from the wild, the
methods by which they are captured, the devices used and the methods of treatment
afterwards.
Chap. VII.
A description of the training techniques utilized upon trapping a wild and Bird of
Prey.
Chap. VIII.
The species used upon various noble quarry which will be preyed upon, methods of
hunting with Faulconry birds as well as the companion animals which can
facilitate the taking of game.
Chap. IX.
A collections of conclusions drawne by the Authour’s experiences as well as a list
of terms and terminology used in the Noble Arte of Faulconry.
The Arte of Medieval Faulconry
as Practiced in a Modern World
By Eule von Haginbald,
a.k.a. Steve Hemphill, Master Falconer
Chap. I.
4,000 years ago, somewhere on the plains of Central Asia, a man captured a falcon to test
her predatory spirit. He trained her, fed her and set her free. In search of prey, she soared
higher and higher. From far above the clouds she spotted her quarry and made her kill. But
then she did not fly away from the man, instead she shared her catch with him. On this
occasion, long ago, was born the art and science of Falconry.
Little has changed in the sport of Falconry over the past
4,000 years. Although it has been the subject of shifting
popularity and restrictions, interest continues. It is this
relationship between Falconer and bird that has fueled my
interest in the sport for over 30 years.
As a student of history, I have researched the historical
aspects of Falconry and have tried, encumbered by the
numerous restrictions our modern world imposes, to trap,
house, train, and fly my falconry birds in the manner of a
medieval falconer. It is my intention, with my practical
experience as a guide, to educate the reader in the methods
of practicing the medieval art of falconry in the modern
world and demonstrate how they compare to the original.
I must clarify that I am licensed to practice falconry by both the state (Texas) and federal (United
States) governments and to experiment with these methods without the proper permits is a
violation of state and federal law.
“He who would be fully instructed in falconry must be proficient in the feeding,
the attendance upon, the training, and the domestication of falcons, and in
teaching them how to capture their quarry. He must also be well acquainted with
numerous other responsibilities connected with these tasks, all of which are
discussed in this book. Only then can he be regarded a worthy member of the
guild and deserve to be called by the name Falconer.” 1
Chap. II.
History
Falconry, one of the oldest partnerships between human and animal, dates back at least 4,000
years to the Middle East, although other experts claim the sport had its inception in Asia even
earlier. In Falconry, a raptor is trained to capture and kill wild game. Other animals have been
trained for hunting, most notably dogs, but Falconry is unique in that it relies on wild, rather than
domesticated, animals: only the ancient use of trained cheetahs in Asia is analogous.
“Moreover, as regards other forms of hunting, which so many follow with enthusiasm,
they are less noble because they depend merely upon the use of artificial implements,
such as nets, snares, traps, hunting spears, javelins, bows and slings or they are carried on
by means of four-footed animals, both tame and wild, such as various sorts of leopards,
dogs, lynx, ferrets and other beasts.” 2
Because raptors could not be bred in captivity until the 20th c., hunting hawks have never been
more than a single generation from the wild.
In the centuries before firearms, a trained falcon or hawk was the best way of catching flying
birds. It was not, however, the easiest way of gathering food. For this reason, Falconry was
largely the sport of the idle rich, people who could afford to spend the time and money to keep,
house, and train birds that brought little in the way of practical reward.
In fact, the nobility often made it illegal for the lower classes to fly hawks, at least those species
that were capable of catching game worth eating. The 15th c. Boke of St. Albans, which sets out
the hierarchy of Falconry, followed through much of the Middle Ages and plagiarized during the
Renaissance, notes that raptors such as gyrfalcons and peregrines could be flown by only the
highest ranking men. Servants, if they wished to participate in this sport of chivalry, could fly a
kestrel, a small falcon capable of killing little more than mice and sparrows. In many countries,
there were harsh penalties for overstepping class bounds with hunting hawks; in some cultures,
for a peasant to take a peregrine chick from its eyrie could result in death.
Social Rank & Appropriate Bird
as Delineated in The Boke of St. Albans
Emperor:
King:
Prince:
Earl of high nobleman:
Baron:
Knight:
Squire:
Noblewoman:
Yeoman or landed gentry:
Page or yeoman:
Priest:
Holywater clerk:
Knave, servant or child:
Golden eagle, Vulture and Merlin
Gyrfalcon
Female peregrine
Peregrine
Tiercel (male) peregrine
Saker falcon
Lanner falcon
Female Merlin
Northern goshawk
Eurasian hobby hawk
Female Eurasian sparrowhawk
Musket (male Eurasian sparrowhawk)
Eurasian kestrel 3
Falconry was more than a status symbol in medieval life. As a sport it was
pursued with a fervor far exceeding that of any sport in the 20th c. - people
even brought their hawks to church. The nobility spared no expense when it
came to their falcons. One 13th c. ruler, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II,
built mews for housing his falcons that were as elaborate as castles; he also
wrote the 6 volume De Arte Venandi cum Avibus (The Art of Falconry),
which, until the 20th c. was the definitive work on the subject. Even the
clergy took part with abandon; the Boke of St. Albans, for instance, was
written by an English prioress, Dame Juliana Barnes.
Falconry was even more extravagant in Asia. Marco Polo reported in 1276 that when Kublai
Khan went hunting (carried by elephants because his gout was acting up) his contingent included
more than 500 bird of prey ranging from gyrfalcons to golden eagles, tended by 10,000 falconers
on horseback.
Falcons, especially gyrfalcons and peregrines, were the objects
not only of sport but also of diplomacy, and even war. No selfrespecting noble went on campaign without his falcons and
falconers in attendance. Treaties were sealed with the gift of
rare raptors, and captive princes were on occasion ransomed by
payments of rare hawks. Especially prized were white-phased
gyrfalcons from Greenland, a small but lucrative trade item for
Viking colonists on that island.
Chap. III.
The Birds
Many different species of raptors were available to the medieval falconer due to the favorable
migration routes through Western Europe. However, only a few select species were sought as
Falconry birds:
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
“Bird of Jove” is one of the many aliases given to the king of birds,
highly prized in Rome as the legendary messenger of the god Jove
and thought to have thunderbolts in its talons as it sped across the
heavens. Weighing approximately 7 pounds, with a wingspan of 6
feet, Golden eagles have long been considered among the premier
birds of the sport, but their size and strength make them daunting even dangerous - to work with.
“If a large eagle were actually employed in venery and mounted into the air, the
falconer’s other birds would be alarmed and from fright of the larger bird would refuse to
do their duty.” 4
The long, thick talons of the rear and inside toes are the size of grizzly bear claws and can
penetrate up to three inches into its victim. A golden eagle has enough strength in their talons to
pierce a man’s skull. These fierce raptors are capable of taking prey well beyond the reach of
other birds, however, and in Asia teams of eagles have for centuries been flown against deer,
antelope and even wolves.
Gyrfalcon
Falco rusticolus
Royal, majestic and magnificent are just a few descriptions of the largest and
most northerly member of the falcon family. It was the pure white Gyrfalcon
that was reserved for and flown by the kings of Europe. Even today,
tremendous prices are paid by some Middle Eastern falconers (at one time up to
$100,000) for one of these birds.
“It is difficult to decide what colors are most to be desired in gerfalcons, as
there exist fine specimens with all shades. In our experience the rare white
varieties from remote regions are the best.” 5
Due to its larger size, the gyrfalcon lacks the maneuverability of its smaller cousins, but it more
than makes up for this with its powerful flight. In straight and level flight, the Gyrfalcon is much
faster than a Peregrine. Because of this, a low-level, direct pursuit is its chosen hunting tactic.
The Gyrfalcon is primarily flown at pheasant, grouse and duck.
Peregrine
Falco peregrinus
Throughout history, the Peregrine Falcon has been the bird of choice among the
falconry elite and is supposedly the fastest animal on earth. This bird, in a full
vertical stoop, has been clocked at speeds of over 160 miles per hour.
Commonly called a “Duck Hawk”, this bird’s diet consists of birds that are
usually caught on the wing.
“Peregrines are smaller falcons, but their build and superior hunting qualities
allow them to rank with the best of the gerfalcons…” 6
Peregrine falcons were flown against gray herons, an exceptionally large target, although grouse,
wood pigeons and rooks were common prey.
Saker Falcon
Falco cherrug
By some accounts, the Saker Falcon is considered one of the best raptors for
falconry. The Saker falcon is similar to the Gyrfalcon in wing and tail
measurements but is slightly built and does not weigh as much as the large
arctic falcons.
“The saker falcon ranks next in size to the gerfalcon, although it is not quite
as large. The head is large and round; but the beak is relatively short, the
body is proportionately more slender and longer, the wings and tail are
longer, the breast is less fleshy and thick than in the gerfalcon, and the toes
are shorter.” 7
These birds not only take avian prey but ground quarry as well, making this species a very well
rounded falconry bird.
Lanner Falcon
Falco biarmicus
This species, similar in size to the Peregrine falcon, is found in southern Europe
and northern Africa.
“Lanner falcons are smaller than true noble falcons and they have in
comparison to their bodies a thicker head and throat than other falcons.
They are long, slim and not fleshy; their talons are small and their toes
thick, short and golden yellow.” 8
These falcons primarily prey on smaller avian quarry such as pigeons and upland gamebirds but
have been known to take smaller sized ducks on occasion.
Merlin
Falco columbarius
Traditionally a noble lady’s bird, the Merlin was also a sought after falconry
bird for the upper nobility due to its blinding speed and ferocious nature.
Weighing less than a pound with an 18” wingspan, the Merlin is a versatile
hunter. They are as adept at high-level stoops as they are at low-level, straighton pursuits.
“She is a courageous and hardy Hawk, flying with greater fierceness and
more hotly than any other bird of prey; so that she will venture to fly the
Partridge, Heathpowt and other birds bigger than herself, and pursue them
eagerly even into villages and Towns.” 9
Merlins resemble scaled down Peregrines with large black eyes. Small birds make up almost all
of the Merlin’s diet with skylarks making up the falconers’ favorite prey.
Goshawk
Accipiter gentilis
Although Falconry was the pastime of the idle rich, the Goshawk was the bird
that put food on the gentry’s table. Easily recognized by its blood-red eyes, the
Goshawk is bloodthirsty, savage, ruthless and elegant, and is the largest and
most powerful of the Accipiters.
“Some Goshawks are swift of flight, which in pursuing and catching their
prey trust to the swiftness of their Wings, others fly slow, and win what
they get by policy: None of them but by industry may be trained up to, and
made good for somewhat.” 10
Famous for its tenacity in the pursuit of a wide variety of avian and ground quarry, the Goshawk
was a favorite of the medieval falconer.
Common Kestrel
Falco tinnunculus
Also known as the Rock Kestrel, this petite yet colorful falcon is small and
very high-strung. Flown only by the lowest class, this bird preys primarily on
insects, small snakes and mice. However, they were trained to fly against larger
quarry such as sparrows, starlings and songbirds.
“The Sparhawk though a demy-creature, yet for her spirit and mettle is
worthy to march in the best company; Nay, there is no better Hawk than
she, if she be kept, as she out to be, lusty and strong. Besides, he that
knows how to man, reclaim and fly a Sparrow-hawk, may easily know how
to keep and deal with all other Hawks.” 11
A hunting tactic unique to Kestrels is its ability to hover in place for extended periods of time
while scanning the ground, then diving for a suitable meal in a classic falcon’s stoop.
Red-Tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
The Red-Tailed hawk was not a species known to the medieval falconer in
Western Europe. This species is common throughout North and South America
and is one of the more versatile hawks used in falconry today. Weighing
approximately 2-3 pounds, with an average wingspan of 3 feet, these birds
normally prey on ground quarry such as cottontail and jackrabbits, however,
they can be effectively trained to take quail, pheasant and other upland
gamebirds. The Red-Tailed hawk is one of three species of raptor that can be
flown by an apprentice falconer in the United States today.
Baywing Hawk, a.k.a. Harris Hawk
Parabuteo unicinctus
The Harris Hawk is another species of raptor that the medieval
falconer would not have had available to fly, although had it been
available to him, it too would have been a prized falconry bird. First
thought to be merely a scavenger, with no practical use for falconry,
the Harris Hawk has enjoyed a popularity across the world that few
period species would have known. The only social raptor, the Harris
Hawk is arguably the easiest species to train for falconry. Capable of
taking a variety of quarry including avian and mammal, this species is
capable of taking 10 pound jackrabbits with ease.
Chap. IV.
Equipment
Glove
Because the talons of a falcon are the tools with which she captures and kills
her prey, it is necessary for the falconer to adequately protect his hand when
some type of glove. The glove has traditionally been worn on the off hand so
that the dominate hand can be used for hooding, attaching the leash and other
necessary tasks. The vast majority of gloves have simply been made of leather.
The falconer’s glove can be as simple or as decorative and elaborate as the
individual chooses.
“…it should reach to his elbow and be wide enough to be drawn off and on
with ease. It must be made of stout leather of a quality that will not permit the talons of
the falcon to cling to it and thus be easily pierced by the beak or claws. When the falcon
is thrown from the hand, she will rise more freely from such a properly fitting glove.” 12
For smaller species, such as the Kestrel or Merlin, almost any leather glove will offer the hand
sufficient protection. For the average sized species, such as the Peregrine or Gyrfalcon, a
gauntlet style glove that protects up to the middle of the forearm is used. This glove usually had
a double thickness of leather along the right side of the hand and on the thumb to better protect
the hand from the bird’s talons. For golden Eagles, a double thick layer of horsehide from hand
to shoulder is required.
Jesses
Jesses, the leather strips attached to the falcon’s legs, have always been used
as a means of securing the falcon to the glove or perch.
“Jesses are really leather snares to be placed on the legs. They are used
in holding the falcon and are released when the falcon is slipped. When
this is done the falcon is prevented from flying off without the consent of
the bearer. The jesses also serve as an attachment for the leash.” 13
Originally, jesses were permanently attached to the bird by means of a
twisted knot or other arrangement. The modern falconer, however, is legally
forbidden to use this type of jesse in favor of the “Aylmeri” style which can be removed by the
falcon should it become lost to the falconer.
Leash
The leash is simply some form of tie, approximately 12” long, made of rope, leather or other
suitable material, which attaches at one end to the jesses via a swivel and at the other end to the
glove or perch.
“The leash is a long leather strap, by means of which falcons are secured to a perch and
held fast under all conditions. It is fashioned from strong soft material cut the same
width throughout except at one end, where it is a little narrower.” 14
Swivel
A small, yet highly important piece of falconry equipment is the swivel. Set between the jesses
and the leash, the swivel prevents the leash and jesses from twisting to the point
that the falcon becomes dangerously bound to its perch. The original medieval
style swivel was a simple metal figure eight arrangement. Today, the most
common swivel is a stainless steel, ball bearing swivel which is used in
saltwater fishing. However, the original swivel has recently enjoyed a revival
amongst modern falconers, as it is simpler in design and considerably stronger.
Hood
The falcon hood is the one piece of falconry furniture that the average
person associates with the sport. Simply or tremendously extravagant, the
hood is constructed of light leather and is used to easily blind the falcon
from her surroundings, thus calming her down. The hood is secured to the
falcon’s head by a set of drawstrings, called braces, located in the back of
the hood. Over the years, developments in leathers and creative techniques
have truly turned hood making into an art. For hundreds of years, the
craftsmen in Valkenswaard, Holland set the mark of quality for historic
European hood makers. These hoods today are highly sought after and are
exceedingly expensive.
The falcon hood was originally not known to the Western European falconer until Frederick II
brought this technology back from his first Crusade.
“The Arabian chiefs not only presented us with many kinds of falcons but sent with them
falconers expert in the use of the hood. In addition to these sources of knowledge we
have imported, partly from Arabia, partly form other countries, both birds and men
skilled in the art, from which whom we have acquired a knowledge of all their
accomplishments.” 15
Perches
The perches on which hawks and falcons rest are of several sizes, adapted to the particular needs
of the birds (i.e. size, species and temperament. The block perch is generally furnished for birds
while weathering outside, however they were not usually found in the mews (hawk house) where
the low and high perch were normally used.
The block perch was commonly made of either wood or stone and is
constructed so that when the falcon is on her block, her tail feathers do not
touch the ground and become frayed or broken. The upper surface is smooth,
sometimes covered in soft cloth or leather. The entire structure resembles an
inverted pyramid atop an iron spike driven into the ground. Located around the
spike is a ring to which the falcon’s leash is attached. When the leash is pulled
in any direction, it runs around the ring and does not impede the captive bird’s
movement.
The high and low perch are similar in design except for height.
constructed of wood, approximately a foot wide at the top and
as long as the falconer wishes to accommodate as many birds as
are in his care. The high perch was constructed on a level with
the falconer’s eyes so that he may inspect its surface. Although
not used in period, today’s high perch usually has a curtain or
apron suspended from the front of the perch to the ground to
allow the bating falcon to climb back easily to the top of the
perch. The low perch was raised high enough from the ground that the tail
feathers of the falcon would not be damaged by touching the ground.
Each is
Bells
Falconry bells, next to the hood, are easily identifiable falconry accessories.
These too were an innovation brought back from the Crusades, which helped
revolutionize falconry in Western Europe. With a pair of slightly discordant bells
attached, the falconer could easily determine the situation of his bird.
“These bells have several uses. The falconer knows at once from their
ringing that the falcon has flown down from, or fallen off, the perch and can hurry to her
assistance. The bells can also be heard form a long distance wherever the bird happens to
be so that she may more easily be found when lost or out of sight. From the character of
the bell notes the expert knows whether his bird has sprung off the perch, is scratching
herself, or is biting her jesse or the bell near it.” 16
Lure
Traditionally, as today, the falcon lure was used as a means of calling a falcon
back to the falconer or to exercise her. The falcon lure is a symmetrical
arrangement of wings attached to a stuffed cylinder of leather roughly
approximately the shape of a bird. During the early stages of training a falcon,
the falconer teaches the bird to immediately return to him when he produces the
lure. Although the lure resembles a prey bird, it in no way actually fools the
falcon into believing it is a live animal. Instead, through extensive training and
food association, the falcon knows that it will receive an adequate meal if it
returns to the lure. Learning how to use the lure is an art in itself as it can be effective or useless
to the extent that it is in line with and compliments the natural flight-style of the species of falcon
involved in the pursuit of game.
Chap. V.
Housing
Mews
The traditional housing for falconry birds is the mews. Usually a multibird facility, the mews could sometimes be as elaborate as castles. The
basic requirements for the mews were to provide shelter for the falconry
birds away from harsh weather, predators and unwanted human
intervention. Much more than simple cages, the mews allowed the birds
not only enough room to stretch their wings but also were large enough
to allow the bird to fly.
Its chief utility has always been that of a refuge for hawks during
their moulting season – a shelter where they can be properly cared for
while undergoing the annual change of their plumage. Although
commonly employed for this purpose, it is also used as a day and night roosting place for
these captives, fledglings or adults, wild or trained, hooded or sighted, sick or well.”17
Modern law contains very strict guidelines on the construction of these
facilities and must be inspected by a government representative before a
falconry permit is granted. Although period mews were built using a
variety of materials and architectural styles, I chose to construct my
mews using period timber framing techniques. In timber framing,
massive timbers are cut and framed together using time-tested mortise
and tenon joints. Due to the restrictions placed upon this sport, however,
I was required to construct the facility based on specific guidelines set
forth by the State and Federal governments. This, unfortunately,
precluded me from constructing the mews using completely period
materials and techniques. However it did offer the challenge of designing and constructing a
facility that met both the regulatory requirements as well as my historical and aesthetic interests.
Chap. VI.
Trapping
Eyass
There are two times during the year that falcons and hawks are taken for
falconry training. During the late spring months, when the chicks are being
raised by their parents, a suitable bird is taken from the nest. This type of bird
is referred to as an eyass. The falconer must teach this bird to fly and to hunt so
the eyass becomes imprinted to the falconer and can never be released back to
the wild. This type of bird will have a closer bond with the falconer but can
manifest a variety of bad habits such as screaming, mantling and other
aggressive behavior.
Passager
The other time of year is the fall when the birds are migrating south for the
winter. These birds are called passagers. Each fall, falconers from the courts of
every feudal lord and king in Europe would travel to a small village in Brabant
(today, the Netherlands), named Valkenswaard, to attend a spirited medieval
auction, bidding against each other for the best specimens caught that year. The
falconer ideally traps a juvenile bird, which is much more susceptible to falconry training than a
mature bird. The passage bird is more likely to leave a falconer, however these birds already
possess adequate hunting and flying skills as they have survived several months in the wild on
their own. As I have only trapped and trained passage birds, I will limit this paper to discussion
on acquiring this type of bird.
Traps
Attempts to capture raptors for use in falconry have led to ingenuity through many centuries.
Simply capturing a hawk or falcon is not enough to serve the purpose of the sport. The bird must
be caught without damage to even a single feather. The individual conducting the trapping must
also have at least a fundamental knowledge of the steps of a bird of prey as well as thoroughly
understanding the nature and habits of every species sought. There were several types of traps
and methods used in period for trapping wild raptors. Several of these are still the preferred
methods of the modern falconer.
The bownet is made up of two, spring loaded, half circle bows
which are covered in a fine net. The bait animal is secured in
the center of the open net. Once a raptor stoops the prey and
bends its head to eat, the bownet is triggered remotely by the
hidden falconer.
The Dho-gazza is a finely woven net suspended between suitable poles. The
object is to have a stooping falcon fly into it while intent on the bait animal
located on the ground midway between the upright poles. When hit the net
collapses and falls to the ground with the falcon completely snared in the mesh.
This type of trap has changed little in the last five hundred years except for the
introduction of nylon as the material for the netting itself.
The pigeon harness is simply a fitted leather corset, covered with properly
tied nooses, placed on a strong, well-conditioned pigeon liberated
somewhere near a hungry raptor. The harness is placed on the bait bird
and is tethered to a weighted object. The bait bird is then free to attempt
flight, which will attract the attention of any raptors in the area. The
raptor will stoop at the bait animal and its talons will become ensnared in
the nooses.
Post Trap Treatment
Once trapped, the next steps are crucial for the falcon’s safety and first
impression of the falconer. The falcon will do everything in her power to escape
the device that is ensnaring her as she is helpless and vulnerable on the ground,
so the falconer should approach slowly and carefully to minimize the stress on
the bird. First, she is removed from the snare, her feet and talons are bound and
then she is placed within a sock to secure her wings. The freshly caught falcon is
now gently restrained.
The falcon is then transported to her training area where she is inspected,
treated for any conditions that may need attention and fitted with her new
clothes. At this point, the medieval falconer would seel the falcon, which
temporarily blinds her to her surroundings. Seeling is performed by sewing the
lower, outer eyelid to the upper lid. Although seldom used by the modern
falconer, seeling helps minimize stress on the freshly trapper bird and allows
her to be more easily trained.
Next, the medieval falconer would feel the bird’s keel, or breastbone, to determine what
condition, high or low, she is in. If the keel is sharp, she is in a low condition and may be
suffering from some unknown malady or simply hasn’t eaten for a while and may be more
receptive to feeding. If the keel is hard to define, then she is in a high condition and may not
respond to food for a few days. The modern falconer will also feel the bird’s keel and weigh her
several times a day for the first several weeks. Next, her anklets and jesses are placed around her
legs and a leash is attached.
Chap. VII.
Training
Manning
Upon researching the literature of the period, I’ve discovered that the techniques
used in training a wild raptor for use as a Falconry bird have changed little over the
past 1000 years. In a translation of the Old English poem, “Fates of Men”, in the
Exeter book from the late tenth century, can be found a description of the falconer
training a bird:
“Another shall tame the proud wild bird:
The hawk on the hand, until that fierce swallow
Becomes gentle; He puts foot-rings upon it,
And so feeds the fettered bird, proud of its plumage,
Weakens the swift flyer with small pieces of food,
Until the Welsh falcon in its garb and deeds
Becomes humble towards its feeder
And trained to the young man’s hand.”
Manning is a gradual process that accustoms the bird to her surroundings and the methods I use
follow the same techniques as those of the medieval falconer.
The hooded and jessed falcon sits upon the glove in a dimly lit room. Using a feather, the
falconer gently strokes and touches the bird while softly speaking to her. Because the bird
cannot see any threat, she comes to accept the falconer’s touch and becomes accustomed to the
sound of his voice. Once the bird is sufficiently calm, the hood is removed. As expected, the
bird will start at the sight of the threats around her and will bate furiously to escape them. The
bird is gently placed back on the glove and the training continues until the bating stops. Bating
actually aides in the training process as it exhausts the bird and makes it more susceptible to
continued training.
Following several hours of placing and removing the hood, thereby training the bird to accept the
hood, the bird is taken unhooded and on the fist for an introduction to her new surroundings.
This introduction could last several days and continues until she can sit calmly, unhooded, on the
glove or perch with all manner of activity surrounding her.
Feeding
The next step is to train the falcon to overcome her fear of the falconer and
accept food from him. As food is used to teach her what is required of her, no
real progress toward the creation of a hunting bird is made until the pair can
communicate via food. This step simulates how its mother fed her while she
was a chick, thereby making it much easier to bridge the predator gap.
The meat is placed before the falcon so that the food can be smelled; then
her beak, breast and feet are touched with it. This is done to rouse the falcon
so that she will snap at the object that has rubbed against her. She will, as she bites the
offering, be attracted by its taste and will eat part or all of it. She will then be so eager to
feed that she will not be distracted by unfamiliar sounds; and for that reason also now is
the time for the falconer to make some caressing vocal appeal, encouraging her to eat.” 18
These small tidbits are placed on the glove where you entice her to bend her head forward to eat.
This means death in the wild and therefore she is quite afraid to bend over and expose the back
of her head to the falconer. Eventually she will comply and the first great milestone in trust
between the falconer and his charge has occurred. During the next step, the bird is placed on her
perch and the tidbits are offered, on the glove, a few inches away. Within a short period of time,
the falcon realizes that she can hop to the glove and receive a reward for it. From this point
forward, the training will progress rapidly. The falconer gradually increases the distance until
the falcon is making short flights to the glove every time it is offered. At this point, the falconer
may introduce the use of a whistle to associate food with an easily recognizable sound.
Flying on Creance
The falcon is then taken outside and is attached to the creance to fly in her natural environment
while following the new lessons she has learned. Using the whistle, the falconer offers the
falcon tidbits on the glove as before or offers her the lure. This training continues until she
responses each time she is called.
“The best means for securing the falcon is a slender cord of suitable length. While its
chief value is to prevent the bird form flying away during her first flights from the fist, it
must be long enough to permit her to reach the lure. The creance is used because in her
first flights form the falconer’s hand and in her initial trips to the lure (while she is being
taught not to fly away from her master) she is not allowed to fly free but is “entrusted” to
the line, lest in her lean and wild condition she prefer the freedom of the skies to settling
on the lure.”19
Finally, after sufficient time has past and the falconer feels the falcon is ready, the creance is
removed, her bells attached and she is released to fly free. If the falconer has properly done his
job, she will respond as trained and follow all of the commands she has learned from her new
human companion.
Chap. VIII.
Hunting
Falcons
There are two basic styles of hunting which reflect the natural styles of the two
different types of raptors. With falcons, the bird is carried, hooded, on the fist
to the field where quarry can be found. She is then unhooded, she rouses
(shakes and fluffs her feathers), takes a look around and then flies from the
glove. She then spirals up to a great height and “waits on” while the hunting
party and their dogs work the field below. Once the quarry is pointed and
flushed, the falcon will fold her wings and plummet earthward at speeds of over
100 miles per hour, striking her intended target from the sky. She then glides down to collect her
highly earned prize at which point she will await her human companion. Slowly, the falconer
approaches the pair and offers his falcon a trade. If the falcon chooses, she will relinquish her
kill in favor of the tidbit offered by the falconer, at which point he hides the kill in his bag, hoods
his charge and moves on to hunt at a different location.
Hawks
Hawks, on the other hand, being natural perch hunters, are usually flown from the
fist. Again, the hunting party and their dogs search for suitable prey and once it
flushes, the hawk takes flight and tail chases his prey, flying close to the ground.
In the case of large rabbits and hares, it is important that the falconer approach
quickly to help his hawk dispatch his quarry as the rabbit is quite capable of
severely hurting or even killing the bird with its strong hind legs.
Noble Quarry
During the late 15th and early 16th centuries, a favorite sport amongst
the noble elite was the hunting of cranes with Peregrine falcons.
Cranes, being much larger than the Peregrine, were a difficult prey,
however these flights were not intended to kill the crane. The falcon
was cast off once a crane was spotted and she would attempt to fly the
crane lower and lower until it would crash to the ground. At which
point, the noble would attach a small golden ring, inscribed with his
mark, to the crane’s leg. It was considered a great accomplishment to
capture a crane with several rings attached.
According to Hywel the Good, a leading Welsh prince who is found
attesting charters of the English King Athelstan (925-39), notes that the
royal falconer was to be especially honored by the King when his hawk killed one of the three
sought-after birds: a bittern, a heron or a curlew (crane). The King would hold his falconer’s
horse while the falconer dismounted to separate the hawks from the captured birds and hold his
stirrup again while he remounted.
Dogs
Since the earliest attempts of human beings to form cooperative hunting
teams such as man, dog and hawk, in the taking of game birds or
mammals, every possible variety of dog has been utilized. The dog has
been a keystone of the hunting team since the days prior to recorded
history and certainly pre-dates falconry, as we know it. Bas-reliefs found
in Babylon, created more than 2500 years ago, show us the oldest pictorial history we have to
falconry as it existed showing dogs that were on hand to help the falconer and his hawk locate
and take game. The first recognizable breeds were the Saluki and Greyhound used by the people
of the Middle East to hunt large hare with Saker falcons. When falconry advances were brought
home with the returning Crusaders, dogs were employed to help locate and flush quarry. In most
period hawking pictorials, a number of dogs of all varieties are shown engaged in supporting
falconry activities.
One breed that has enjoyed many centuries as a treasured falconry companion, and is the breed I
own, is the Vizsla. This sleek, short-haired, rusty gold pointer can trace its ancestry to the
Magyar warriors who, around the eighth century, overran and settled the area that later became
the Hungarian nation. In 1375 a group of Carmelite friars, under the direction of Hungarian
King Lajos the Great, wrote the Illustrated Chronicle, which includes information about the
breed. From then to the present, Hungarian literature offers a reasonably complete history of this
breed. A versatile breed, meaning they will track, point, flush and retrieve, the Vizsla was
jealously guarded by the Hungarian nobility, refusing to export the breed.
Ferrets
Another often used hunting companion to the falconer was the ferret. A slender carnivore
derived from the wild European Polecat (Mustela putoris), its use in falconry covers many
centuries. Ferreting rabbits is one of the oldest European hunting and sporting techniques.
However, hawking with ferrets was not the sport of Kings. In earlier Western European history,
ferreting was not a sport but the work of full time warreners whose living depended on producing
rabbit meat and fur. The basics of working a ferret and hawk together, for the purpose of
increasing the number of rabbits flushed under the hawk, is similar today as in period. The
falconer simply locates a rabbit hole, places the ferret in the hole, the rabbit bolts out of the hole
and is pursued by the hawk.
Chap. IX.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, the Golden Age of Falconry came to an end with the invention of the firearm.
The leisure class now had a new toy with which they could continue to hunt. For the modern
falconer, it is good that the sport never completely died out.
Falconry is a unique pastime in that the technology of the sport has changed very little. As a
modern falconer reads through copies of the period falconry masters (i.e. Frederick II, Dame
Julyans Barnes, Latham, Turbervile, etc.) he is struck with the fact that this Sport of Kings is
practiced today much as it has been since this subject was first written about. My experiences as
a modern falconer are much the same. However, I have the unique opportunity, through my
interest in researching history, to pursue and learn my beloved art in the same way as a falconer
of the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
Terminology
Aerie:
Austringer:
Aylmeri:
Bate:
Bewit:
Block:
Brancher:
Cadger:
Casting:
Cast off:
Cere:
Creance:
Crop:
Deck Feathers:
Eyass:
Falcon:
Falconer
Gerkin:
Gyrfalcon:
Hack:
Haggard:
Hawking:
Hood:
Imping:
Intermewed:
Jesses:
Manning:
Mantling:
Mews:
Molt:
Mutes:
Nares:
Passager:
Rouse:
Stoop:
Tiercel:
Waiting on:
the nest of a raptor.
to purists, someone who flies hawks, eagles, and owls.
short leather anklet and jesse combination used to secure the falcon to the
perch or fist. A modern piece of equipment.
when the bird attempts to fly, while leashed, away from the glove or
perch.
short piece of leather that fastens the bells to the falcon’s leg.
perch for falcons.
young bird taken just as it was beginning to stray from the nest, but before
it learned how to make extended flights.
a person who carried falcons to the field on a perch, or cadge, hanging
from the neck.
a pellet of undigested material consisting of bone, fur, feathers, etc.
letting the falcon fly from the fist.
the soft skin around the bird’s beak.
a long, leash that is used in training to prevent the bird from flying off.
the small pocket at the top of the breast where the falcon stores food
before digesting it.
the two center tail feathers.
a chick taken from a wild nest or aerie and raised in captivity.
strictly speaking, a female peregrine falcon.
a person whom a falcon has concluded is its best meal ticket and a good
guide to where to search for prey.
a male gyrfalcon.
a female gyrfalcon.
a training technique where the young eyass is allowed to fly free but
trained to return home to get food.
a mature bird that has reached its full plumage.
hunting with hawks and eagles instead of falcons.
equipment that covers the falcon’s head preventing her from seeing her
surroundings.
a method of repairing damaged feathers by splicing healthy ones together
term applied to a bird that has been held in captivity through the molt.
leather straps attached to birds' legs.
to accustom a falcon to man and his surroundings.
attitude when bird protectively huddles on kill with wings and tail spread
and defies being touched.
a multi-unit housing facility for falcons, hawks, etc.
the period in which a bird drops its feathers and grows in new ones.
a raptor’s droppings.
a raptor’s nostrils.
a young bird taken into captivity during its first migration.
when a raptor shakes her feathers. Usually done after removing the hood
and after preening.
a swift dive from high altitudes by a falcon intent on capturing prey.
a male peregrine falcon.
circling high above the falconer’s head while searching for quarry.
1
Frederick II, de Arte Venandi cum Avibus (Stanford University Press, 1943) p. 5
Ibid p.150
3
Juliana Berners, The Boke of St. Albans, (St. Albans, 1486) pp. 54-55
4
Frederick II, de Arte Venandi cum Avibus (Stanford University Press, 1943) p. 109
5
Ibid p. 121
6
Ibid p. 122
7
Ibid p. 121
8
Ibid p. 127
9
Francis Wellughby, A Summary of Falconry (London, 1678) p. 421
10
Ibid p. 422
11
Ibid p. 429
12
Frederick II, de Arte Venandi cum Avibus (Stanford University Press, 1943) p. 151
13
Ibid pp. 138,139
14
Ibid pp. 139-140
15
Ibid pp. 205-206
16
Ibid p. 143
17
Ibid p. 419
18
Ibid pp. 158-159
19
Ibid p. 230
2
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